Two-piece upper control arm and spring mounting bracket

Abstract

A bracket assembly for supporting both an upper control arm and a spring suspension mechanism in a vehicular body and frame assembly includes a first bracket that is generally U-shaped, including a central portion and a pair of opposed side portions. The central portion of the first bracket has a lower edge that extends generally longitudinally and preferably is shaped to correspond with the shape of an upper surface of a side rail of the vehicle frame assembly. The side portions of the first bracket extend generally perpendicularly relative to the central portion. The bracket assembly further includes a second bracket that is generally formed in the shape of an inverted cup, including an inner central portion, a pair of opposed side portions, and an outer central portion. The inner central portion of the second bracket is sized and shaped to extend adjacent to the central portion of the first bracket. Portions of the first and second brackets are welded together to form the bracket assembly. When so assembled, the first side portion of the first bracket extends generally parallel to the first side portion of the second bracket, and the second side portion of the first bracket extends generally parallel to the second side portion of the second bracket. These two pairs of the side portions form two support structures for pivotably supporting the ends of the upper control arm. The inverted cup-shaped structure of the second bracket provides a structure for receiving and positively retaining the upper end of the suspension spring mechanism therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combined frame assembly and suspension system for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame assembly including a structural member;   a bracket assembly secured to said structural member, said bracket assembly including a first bracket having a central portion and first and second side portions and a second bracket including a central portion and first and second side portions, said first side portion of said first bracket and said first side portion of said second bracket defining a first support structure, said second side portion of said first bracket and said second side portion of said second bracket defining a second support structure; and   a control arm having a first end that is pivotably connected to said first support structure and a second end that is pivotably connected to said second support structure.   
     
     
       2. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said first bracket extend generally perpendicularly relative to said central portion. 
     
     
       3. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said second bracket extend generally perpendicularly relative to said central portion. 
     
     
       4. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said first bracket extend generally perpendicularly relative to said central portion, and wherein said first and second side portions of said second bracket extend generally perpendicularly relative to said central portion. 
     
     
       5. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said central portion of said second bracket is a first central portion, and wherein said second bracket includes a second central portion that extends between said first and second side portions thereof.   
     
     
       6. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 5 wherein said first central portion of said second bracket is secured to said central portion of said first bracket. 
     
     
       7. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first support structure has a pair of aligned openings formed therethrough, said first end of said control arm has an opening formed therethrough, and further including a retainer extending through said aligned openings formed through said first support structure and said opening formed through said first end of said control arm to pivotably connect said first end of said control arm to said first support structure. 
     
     
       8. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 7 wherein said second support structure has a pair of aligned openings formed therethrough, said second end of said control arm has an opening formed therethrough, and further including a retainer extending through said aligned openings formed through said second support structure and said opening formed through said second end of said control arm to pivotably connect said second end of said control arm to said second support structure. 
     
     
       9. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein central portion of said first bracket includes an edge that abuts a surface of said structural member. 
     
     
       10. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said first bracket include respective surfaces that engage portions of a surface of said structural member. 
     
     
       11. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said first bracket include respective first surfaces that engage portions of a first surface of said structural member and respective second surfaces that engage portions of a second surface of said structural member. 
     
     
       12. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said second bracket include respective first surfaces that engage portions of a first surface of said structural member and respective second surfaces that engage portions of a second surface of said structural member. 
     
     
       13. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second side portions of said first bracket include respective first surfaces that engage portions of a first surface of said structural member and respective second surfaces that engage portions of a second surface of said structural member, and wherein said first and second side portions of said second bracket include respective first surfaces that engage portions of a first surface of said structural member and respective second surfaces that engage portions of a second surface of said structural member. 
     
     
       14. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 1 further including a spring suspension mechanism, and wherein said second bracket includes a panel that is engaged by said spring suspension mechanism. 
     
     
       15. The combined frame assembly and suspension system defined in claim 14 wherein said panel has an opening formed therethrough.